Two weeks later, Aoki Tsuki finally received a reply from Mei Terumi.
That damned woman, she's deliberately keeping him hanging. Mei Terumi's current status in Kirigakure, she doesn't need this much time at all.
They agreed to lend the longsword, but the conditions they offered were exceptionally harsh.
First, the missionary activities of the Jashin Cult in the Land of Water must be stopped immediately. Second, all the dirty work that Kirigakure cannot handle should be taken over and split 50/50.
Finally, the annual rental fee for the Nuibari is five million taels, with a deposit of ten million taels, payable in advance for one month's rent and three months' rent in advance.
'This is a woman who understands operations.'
After Aoki Tsuki agreed, Kirigakure actually sent their Anbu to deliver the Nuibari to the new headquarters of the Jashin Cult in the Land of Hot Water Springs.
It was telling him that Kirigakure knew the true nature of the Jashin Cult, and he shouldn't try to renege on his debt.
The Land of Hot Water can be considered, to some extent, a smaller brother within the geopolitical sphere of influence of the Land of Water.
Aoki Tsuki signed the contract on the spot and paid the deposit and rent in one lump sum. He was going to make back all the money that Kirigakure had taken from him by taking it from the people of Kirigakure.
"Go and deliver the Nuibari, and this contract to Zabuza."
Is this really a good idea?
Kikuno Momo was speechless; Zabuza would be furious if he saw this.
She had been following Aoki Tsuki for several years, but she had never discovered where this person's bottom line was, or perhaps there was none at all.
Click...
The Kubikiribōchō cleaved a solid wooden table in two in an instant.
"Damn village!" Zabuza cursed. He had already become a rogue ninja, but in the end, he still had to serve the village.
He actually believed them when they said they disappeared into the Bloody Mist and embraced peace.
Born a person of Kirigakure, die a ghost of Kirigakure; once a person of Kirigakure, one can never escape it.
" Zabuza- san, what's wrong?" Haku asked in a panic.
"Nothing, I just miss my hometown a bit. Bai, here's a new weapon that'll suit you."
"This is..."
Bai stared blankly at the Nuibari needle, which was almost as tall as him.
" The Nuibari, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, is more than worthy of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist's title, given your abilities."
"He's one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Does this mean I'll become Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist like Zabuza?"
Haku excitedly picked up the weapon that was about to become his; Zabuza must have paid a heavy price for him.
Thinking of this, I felt the Nuibari in my hand was unusually heavy.
At this moment, Zabuza was Zabuza with the annual rental fee of five million ryo. Kirigakure took half of that, it would be equivalent to 10 S-rank assassination missions to cover the rental fee.
Doesn't the Jashin Cult make money? This number needs to double; there are at least two missions a month that can't be missed.
'I knew this guy had ulterior motives in trying so hard to get me into the Jashin Cult.'
They said they were free most of the time and just needed to keep an eye on things, but it turns out they were just doing tasks when they had to and keeping an eye on things when they were free.
They're really exploiting people to the point of exhaustion! A cult, a complete cult organization, a fraud ring.
Aoki Tsuki immediately relayed the news that he had captured the entire market share of the Land of Water back to Akatsuki.
Upon receiving the news, Pain couldn't help but remark, "That guy's pretty capable."
If we're talking about the top seller in Akatsuki, it has to be Aoki Tsuki; the others are just high-level lackeys.
He excels at intelligence gathering, his market expansion is top-notch, he's in charge of the Jashin Cult, and I've heard he has a dedicated female secretary and lavish meals every day.
He enjoyed everything he was entitled to, and his entourage far surpassed that of the highest leader of Akatsuki.
Everyone in the organization talks about it privately with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
Pain sometimes wondered if Aoki Tsuki would have replaced Hanzō and led Amegakure out of its predicament if he hadn't appeared.
It's really hard to say.
"Is Itachi and Kisame in charge of the Land of Water?"
"Um."
"From now on, their tasks will be transferred to Aoki Tsuki's team to improve efficiency."
"Clear."
Konan nodded, then asked, "How's your research on Karin's abilities going?"
After Aoki Tsuki reported Karin's abilities, Konan conducted numerous tests and determined the limits of Karin's perception.
Its range easily covers the entire Amegakure, and it can accurately locate even those hiding in secret rooms.
If Pain could master this ability, why would he bother Chakra to maintain the rain?
Under the guise of guiding cultivation, Deva Path Pain secretly conducted some research. Since Nagato also possessed the bloodline of the Uzumaki Clan, there was no reason Nagato he couldn't awaken it.
"I can't do that. This kind of wide-range perception ability doesn't seem to be something that can be mastered through cultivation."
That's a real shame.
Pain, however, didn't mind. "This child is now part of the village. When I'm not around, she can take my place in guarding against intruders."
"That's all we can do," Konan said, slightly disappointed.
Aoki Tsuki has been making progress. Regardless of whether he is despicable or not, he is increasing his power at a visible rate.
Pain, on the contrary, started strong but then his performance declined steadily.
If Pain could easily defeat Aoki Tsuki in the past, and now he can only suppress him, it's hard to say what will happen in a few years.
'No, Pain is invincible. No one can defeat him,' Konan silently encouraged herself.
She has now cultivated her spiritual Secret Mind Technique to a considerable degree, making her control over paper even more adept.
Improving Chakra utilization efficiency is equivalent to increasing one's combat duration.
Clearly, she lacks powerful moves and a trump card that can kill in one strike.
"There's no other way. I'll ask Yue next time. He has so many ideas; maybe he can give me some advice."
Now that things have come to this, there's nothing to be ashamed of. Strengthening our abilities is the priority, as every member of Akatsuki possesses unique skills.
She was under a lot of pressure.
"That bastard is probably lying in some woman's arms right now."
Pain often praised Aoki Tsuki in front of her, saying that the guy worked very hard for the village and the organization.
She learned this after visiting the Land of Hot Water, where people usually recuperate at hot spring inns and eat twenty or thirty dishes per meal.
The organization used to delegate all its work to its subordinates, not to mention now that they have personal secretaries.
Yugakure.
Aoki Tsuki is currently swimming and fishing in the mixed-gender hot spring.
There are many hot springs in the Shinobi World, each with its own way of attracting customers. The hot springs in the Land of Hot Water are the most famous, as they offer bathing companion services, allowing guests to fully unleash their natural instincts.
Hot springs are truly relaxing; after a bath, my legs feel weak.
If someone were to assassinate him at this point, the success rate would increase to 80%.
Inside a room at the Jashin Research Institute, High Priest Takane was filled with extreme resentment. He was already very dissatisfied with Aoki Tsuki becoming the leader.
Now even his former underling Hino, has replaced him and become the de facto controller of the Jashin project.
Clearly, everyone knew he had lost power and began to isolate and ostracize him.
"You despicable bastards, the Jashin will punish you severely."
Takane walked out of his office and came to Hidan's room, where two guards stopped him.
"I've come to bring some food to the Divine Child," Takane explained.
The guard checked the food and found it consisted of just two pieces of bread and a glass of water. Without suspecting anything, he passed it in through the window.
After praying to the Jashin inside the house, young Hidan picked up a piece of bread and began to eat.
Click...
"This is... a key?"
Hidan immediately broke into a maniacal grin. Years of imprisonment and the monotonous life of being a prisoner had long since made him dissatisfied.
Without the slightest hesitation, he inserted the key into the lock and turned it gently.
Thud!
The steel gate was opened from the inside, and the two guards outside stared wide-eyed at the sound.
"You... you're kidding, right?"
They knew very well what kind of monster was being held inside, and one of them immediately sounded the alarm.
Beep... beep... beep
The piercing alarm blared throughout the entire Jashin Research Institute, plunging everyone into panic as they feared an enemy invasion.
Upon hearing the noise, Takane immediately ran towards Hidan's room; his chance to turn the tables had arrived.
Puff... Puff...
The two guards Kunai into Hidan's body, but they felt no relief; in fact, they were even more terrified because their target was still smiling at them.
"Not enough, more! I can already feel the pain, waah... it hurts so much, please kill me hard, ahahahaha..."
Pain, sorrow, joy, madness—several expressions alternated on Hidan's face.
"A madman! This kid's a madman, he's impossible to kill." One of the guards released the Kunai and turned to run.
"Hey, Emon, don't go! Wait... wait for me!"
The remaining guard was numb and didn't know what to do, so he also let go of the Kunai and ran away.
Unaware of how dangerous it is to leave one's back to the enemy during battle, Hidan drew two Kunai from his body and hurled them at the two.
Pfft!
"Ah... ah..."
The two who were trying to escape fell to the ground and struggled, but Hidan caught up with them.
After pulling out the Kunai, he stuck out his tongue and licked the blood off it, revealing a look of ecstasy.
"It tastes delicious, but it's not worthy of being offered to Jashin god."
He pressed his palm against the wound inflicted by the Kunai, and the guard's blood was quickly absorbed, turning him into a dried-up corpse.
Hidan's body visibly became fuller, and his skin became shiny. He then went behind the second guard and did the same thing.
"Um... I'm full."
Hidan let out a burp and was about to turn and leave when he saw an old man walking towards him.
He remembered this guy; it was the one who directed a group of people to torture him all day long.
Clang!
Takane threw the red Triple-Bladed Scythe on the ground and said, "Divine Child, this is the weapon prepared for you. Next, sacrifice everyone you encounter to the Jashin. This is your test."
Hidan fell in love with the Triple-Bladed Scythe at first sight, swung it a couple of times in his hand, and was very satisfied.
" Lord Jashin, I am about to begin offering you sacrifices, hahaha..."
"Very good, come with me." Takane clenched his fist, his whole body trembling with excitement.
Who can understand the pain of losing power? Without power, he was just an old man no one cared about. Now, all of this is about to return to his hands.
puff!
"Ah... you... bastard."
Takane stared in disbelief at the Triple-Bladed Scythe scythe emerging from his stomach—the weapon he had just personally handed to Hidan.
Previously, Hidan had a eccentric personality but acted very obediently; it turns out that all of this was a facade.